Presidential Research & Communications Unit

The Vice President, Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, has expressed Federal Government’s commitment to a successful hosting of the Developing Eight Nations (D-8) Summit in Nigeria come July 2010.

Dr Jonathan gave the assurance when he received the Secretary General of the D-8, Dr. Dipo Alam, on a courtesy call at the State House, Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Monday January 25.

The Vice President said that he was pleased with the line-up of programmes and activities for the Summit as disclosed by Alam and assured that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will work out the details for the successful hosting of the Summit.

He particularly expressed delight in the involvement of the private sector in the programme noting that the sector is key to driving the economy.

Dr Jonathan congratulated Dr. Alam on his appointment as Cabinet Secretary of the Republic of Indonesia, his country of origin.

The D-8 Nations are Bangladesh, Malaysia, Egypt, Turkey, Iran, Nigeria, Pakistan and Indonesia.

Earlier, Dr. Alam has said that he was in Nigeria to explain the progress made so far by the D-8 and to discuss the Summit to be hosted in Abuja in July and as well inform him on his recent appointment as Cabinet Secretary in his country, Indonesia.

He listed the expectations of the D-8 Summit to include Investment Cooperation Declarations, Joint Investment Projects among member Nations, signing of Memorandum of Understanding and signing of projects among member Nations.